IS propaganda machine crippled in international operation

A "ground-breaking" international operation has crippled the propaganda machine of Islamic State, the European police agency has said.

Europol said the two-day "takedown" action had "punched a big hole in the capability of IS to spread propaganda online and radicalise young people in Europe".

A particular target was the group's Amaq news agency, which has been used by IS to broadcast claims of responsibility for attacks and spread propaganda messages.

The operation involved authorities from the UK, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Romania, and the US.

In a statement, Europol said: "With this takedown action, targeting major IS-branded media outlets like Amaq, but also al-Bayan radio, Halumu and Nashir news, IS's capability to broadcast and publicise terrorist material has been compromised."

Police seized servers in the Netherlands, Canada and the US as well as digital material in Bulgaria, France and Romania.